Video game players could represent the next generation of gamblers, according to a 2020 study on youth gambling conducted in New South Wales, Australia.
Video games have been known to employ gambling-like mechanics like loot boxes, random weapon skin rewards, and casino games played for “fun,” to cite a few. Evidence appears to make a link between gamers and real-money gambling, which could be a risk or an opportunity.
The study raised harm-related issues from “simulated gambling” in video games, such as social casino games and loot boxes. The study found that young people engaged in video games with gambling components were more likely to participate in real-money gambling. Most respondents also reported playing games with gambling components from the age of 10.
Clinical psychologist at the Australian Institute for Human Wellness, Dr. Anastasia Hroniss, told Asia Gaming Brief that there is “definitely” the risk of progressing from gaming to gambling, and that people with problems with gaming might be more likely to gamble as well.
“There is a lot of simulated gambling in video games which may account for some of this progression,” she said.
Hai Ng, co-founder of Necromancer, and a video-gaming and esports expert, said the overlap between gaming and gambling likely comes from the “serotonin rush” that’s experienced routinely from gamers when playing games.
“This is mirrored by gamblers when gambling… There are the competitive and repetitive aspects with easily correlated action-reward dynamics that also come into play,” Ng said.
Global wagering giant Entain earlier this year said it had also identified a crossover between video gaming and real-money gambling habits. In a study with 16,000 residents of the U.K., Entain found that video game players were more than 4.3 times more likely to participate in betting and 4.5 times more likely to participate in iGaming than non-gamers.
The findings coincided with the operator’s recent pivot towards esports and video gaming. In 2021, the company completed the purchase of Seattle-based esports operator Unikrn, which it said would help it become a leader in esports and skill-based wagering.
Brett Abarbanel, director of Research at the UNLV International Gaming Institute says that recognizing the convergence between gambling and gaming presents opportunities for harm minimization.
“We can now reach so many people, in so many different ways, that this evolution of gambling into video games and esports opens up the door to connect with new groups…and learn about who they are and how they play, in a safe and healthy way.”
Meanwhile, Sally Gainsbury, director of the University of Sydney Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic said, “it is important that research is commissioned to understand why gambling is elevated among gamers as this may be creating a vulnerable group who are at risk of both gaming and gambling problems… harms associated with excessive use of these activities.”
